Where does Jesus live?
We worship a resurrected Redeemer. That means that Jesus lives. But where does he live? Does he have a house? Maybe he lives down the street - as the volunteer in the homeless shelter. Maybe he lives in the big house on the corner with foster children. Maybe he also lives in your house - as the one who mowed the neighbor's lawn when he was sick. Jesus could even wear your clothes, as you did when you helped a woman whose car had been left on the highway.
Yes, Jesus is alive, and he lives in everyone who has accepted him as Savior and Lord. Paul said that he was crucified with Christ. That is why he could say, “And yet I live; and no longer I, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal. 2,20).
Living Christ's life means that we are an expression of the life He lived here on earth. Our life is immersed in his life and united with him. This declaration of identity belongs on one arm of the identity cross that we had constructed. Our expressions of love and care naturally follow our calling (the foundation of the cross) when one has become a new creation (the trunk of the cross) and sheltered by the grace of God (the crossbar of the cross).
We are an expression of the life of Christ because he is our real life. (Kol. 3,4)We are citizens of heaven, not of earth, and we are only temporary inhabitants of our physical bodies. Our lives are like a breath of steam that vanishes in an instant. Jesus within us is permanent and real.
Römer 12, Epheser 4-5 and Kol. 3 They show us how to live the true life of Christ. First, we must fix our gaze on the realities of heaven, and then surrender to death the evil things that hide within us.Kol. 3,1.5). Verse 12 declares that we are to "put on, as God's chosen, holy, and beloved, tender compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering." Verse 14 instructs us, "But put on love over all these things, which is the bond of perfection."
Since our real life is in Jesus, we represent His physical body on earth and guide Jesus' spiritual life of love and bestowal. We are the heart with which he loves, the arms with which he hugs, the hands with which he helps, the eyes with which he sees, and the mouth with which he encourages others and praises God. In this life, we are the only one to see people of Jesus. That's why his life, which we express, should be better! That will be the case if we do everything for a one man audience - for God and all for His glory.
So, where does Jesus live? He lives where we live.Kol. 1,27b) Do we allow his life to be scrutinized, or do we keep him locked away, hidden too deeply to be noticed or to help others? If so, let us conceal our own lives within him. (Kol. 3,3)...and let us allow him to live through us.
by Tammy Tkach
